• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Authorities are launching an investigation following the discovery of unidentified human remains inside a sugarcane plantation at Hacienda Bernabe, Barangay Salvacion, in the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Friday morning.
The discovery was made at approximately 9:00 a.m. by laborers engaged in cutting sugarcane.
Murcia Municipal Police Station (MPS) initial report stated that the workers were alerted by a very strong foul odor emanating from a section of the field located just 10 meters from the main highway.
MPS Acting Chief of Police PCPT Honey Labaro said Barangay Chief Regie Burata, who also serves as the overseer of the hacienda, immediately notified them of the discovery after being alerted by his workers.
The Murcia MPS has since requested the assistance of the Scene of the Crime Operatives to conduct a thorough forensic examination of the site.
As of press time, the identity, age, and gender of the victim remain unknown due to the state of the remains.
Labaro said no missing person had been reported at their station.
On October 18, human skeletal remains were also found in Hacienda Bernabe 2 of the same barangay, however, Labaro said that there has been no further developments with regards to that earlier case.*
